Now that my Merriwell Sisters series is finally finished, it seems fitting to thank everyone who played a part in its journey. First and foremost, those thanks go to my little family of five, who make it all worthwhile. However, a special mention has to go to my husband, Greg—the long-suffering Mr. H—who never fails to believe in me even when I frequently don’t believe in myself. He spurs me on when the imposter syndrome strikes and makes me tea when I’m banging my head against the table because I don’t know what to write next—things that are almost weekly occurrences! I appreciate his unswerving support—despite the fact that he has annoyingly categorized and numbered all the different phases I go through whilst writing a book and I frequently want to throw something at him when he nods sagely and says irritating things like “You’re in classic Phase 4!”
I’d also like to thank my wise and wonderful agent, Kevan Lyon, who has championed this series from the outset and has advanced my career exponentially as a result. Thanks also go to St. Martin’s Publishing Group, who have been a dream to work for and who have given all three of my Merriwell books the most gorgeous, standout covers. And while I will always be grateful to my former editor, Jennie Conway, for acquiring the series, I am especially grateful to my new editor, Sallie Lotz, who picked up the baton seamlessly and has been an absolute joy to work with. I am so looking forward to collaborating with you on the next series, Sallie!
I have been blown away by all the love my Merriwell Sisters have received on social media and from all the bookstores who have their stories displayed upon their shelves. I am so grateful to every single reader who has bought or borrowed one of my books over the years. Writing is such a solitary profession that every little like, comment, or photo lets me know that all the hours I spend thrashing out a story behind my desk are hours well spent. You all remind me that I am not only living my dream but that I also have the best job in the world.
Finally, I would like to thank the Romantic Novelists’ Association here at home in the UK. I stumbled across this wonderfully supportive organization at the start of my writing journey in 2015, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Thanks to its eclectic membership it is the font of all knowledge, a mentor and a counselor and a safe space to commiserate and celebrate the crazy roller-coaster ride that is writing romance. It has given me a community to belong to, filled with people like me who have characters’ voices in their heads screaming to get out. It has also blessed me with some of my very best friends in the world—they all know who they are—and that is worth its weight in gold. The RNA also proudly champions a genre that is beloved by millions of readers across the globe and yet is consistently dismissed by those who ignorantly believe that if a story involves love and human relationships and ends happily then it cannot possibly be “worthy” literature at all. This proud author in the genre begs to differ and solemnly promises to be a faithful and shameless purveyor of happily ever afters for the rest of her life!